return type of operator=

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Article #19

#19

From: Scott Meyers
Date: Sat, 31 Oct 1992 02:52

21 lines
1169 bytes

Is the return type of operator= an lvalue?  In particular, if a, b, and c
are of built-in type, is this legal?

    (a = b) = c;

I couldn't find an answer in the ARM, and cfront accepts this, while g++
rejects it.  

My goal is to determine the correct type for user-defined operator=.  If
the return type is to be an lvalue, then for a class C, the return type
should be C&.  However, if the return value is not to be an lvalue, then
op= should return a const C&.  Two years ago I thought const C& was the
right type, but since then I've become convinced that C& is better.  Now
doubt has surfaced in my mind again, and I'd like to put the matter to
rest.

Scott


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Newsgroups: comp.std.c++
Path: arc1-ca.pugleaf.net!sparky!uunet!brunix!brunix!sdm
From: sdm@cs.brown.edu (Scott Meyers)
Subject: return type of operator=
Message-ID: <1992Oct31.025229.6520@cs.brown.edu>
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Organization: Brown University Department of Computer Science
Date: Sat, 31 Oct 1992 02:52:29 GMT
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